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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Demonstrating once again that MPs are spineless and way behind the majority of the population on issues of morality.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

A select band of late July birthdays - Kate was 80 and I was 79 last week :-)

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Parthenon, Athens, Greece, 2026. Reconstructing the jigsaw. Will this alter the narratives from what was originally intended by the Athens polis?

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Really interesting research on Neanderthals at The Prehistoric Society conference on Saturday, to honour Prof Penny Spikins with the Europa prize, whose keynote lecture on Courage was great. Presentations by Jennifer French, Silvia Bello, Richard Wilson, Matt Pope, Chris Stringer....and me.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

A great day indeed, thanks for your support and advice Matt. What was the Palaeolithic news notification email list again (palnet?) please?

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

What about extending tenant Right to Buy to the private rented sector? Including the right for councils to buy socially supported property from exiting landlords!

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

I will present my current PhD research project on narrative format in hominin cognition, represented by Acheuelan handaxe making, at Prehistoric Society Europa2026 Neanderthal conference, York, on Saturday 6 June, to mark the career of Prof Penny Spikins: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/europa-202...

eventbrite.co.uk

Europa 2026: What can we learn from Neanderthals?

The Prehistoric Society Europa Conference 2026

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Supernovas are extraordinarily brilliant too, hopefully Trump will also, like the supernovas, burn out very quickly, if not already.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Thanks, I've submitted an abstract.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

This is a lovely presentation of the ideas of secularism, but it really should be making clear that secularism is only an option in a democracy. The idea that it can thrive in either religious or autocratic polities is false and should be clearly dismissed. The two are dependent on each other.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The Lords is still a home for cronies and donors. Removing the Hereditary Peers isn’t the end, it’s just the start. Demand a fair, elected second chamber now - sign @electoralreform.bsky.social's call to demand change. It takes 30 seconds action.electoral-reform.org.uk/page/174863/...

action.electoral-reform.org.uk

It’s outrageous that the majority of our lawmakers are unelected. Sign now to demand power be placed rightfully in the hands of the people

It takes 30 seconds

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

I can't find these lines in my copy of Fitzgerald, not in any complete version of the Rubaiyat online. The first four rows are in at least one "quotes" website as by Omar Khayyam, but with any reference to the source. Where did you get it from?

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

The Trump is a SAD awful human being , with no redeeming features. He only understands personal wealth accumulation, bullying, lying and his fantasies. Bullies like him seek the next provocative annexation of territory and resources to continually test the boundaries of their domain of control.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

More prizes for those who have already won massively in life's lotteries of privilege and luck.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Like your tie, which regiment were you in? See you Friday.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Quite right, Netanyahu is not a genocidal war criminal because he is Jewish or because he is an Israeli. He is a genocidal war criminal because he is a psychopathic authoritarian. He uses the Israeli/Palestinian issue to increase the power he needs due to deeply malign personality disorders.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

I think you are getting carreid away with this. The Government website says: "The Government will undertake a consultation early next year. Legislation to reform marriage law will be introduced when parliamentary time allows." No date, opaque "consultation" including CofE? Back in long grass!

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

And counting... petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Humanism provides Hope for Humanity?

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Trump lives on sycophancy. There comes a point where it is an ironic act to feed that and make it obvious that is what is going on. I recall a exchange in 101 Dalmations: Cruella de Ville to her manager "what kind of sycophant are you?" Manager "what kind of sycophant would you like me to be?"

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Pushback like this means that we really are doing the right things and they necessary.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

GREAT! Poster Submission done.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

A new version of George, the Turkish/Palestinian saint's flag.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

A new version of George, the Turkish/Palestinian saint's flag.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

That's four birthdays this week! Me, Kate, Julia and my great niece Sophie Caroline. Love to all at the Alsmhouse!

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Thanks, I didn't know that. I think there shouldn't be a press thing about using "Dr", as readers really need to know the level of academic achievement of people that they are reading an article about, as it's relevant. It's obvious in this case that he was clearly not a medical practitioner!

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

The article, though good, would have more credibility if it referred to James Whitely as Doctor James Whitley, which confirms his academic status, rather than the weighted use of "Mr" compared to acknowledging his academic status as Emeritus Professor, which we should all refer to him as from now?

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Yes, a great place to see what 3D can be. Its not just the scan quality at MST, the texts are really very informative too.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Sorry to be a pedant, but I think you mean ellipsis...?

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Reposted by Robert Ashby

Dr Anna Clark @drannaclark.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

”Either we all live in a decent world, or nobody does.” George Orwell, English novelist, journalist, critic, born #OTD 1903; author of Animal Farm (1945), Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). BBC Archive | UCL Special Collections @uclspeccoll.bsky.social

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

3) From my Literature Review on the Social Brain Hypothesis - for my current PhD research project.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

2) A further paper published almost at the same time as Lindenfors et al 2021 also finds that a cognitive limit on human group size cannot be derived in the way that Dunbar’s number was originally determined (Hague, et al, 2021), but was not considered by Dunbar & Shultz 2023.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

1) Dunbar & Shultz 2023 responded to Lindenfors et al 2021, but dismiss their findings on statistical and hypothesis methodological grounds.

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Reposted by Robert Ashby

Jonathan Cook @jonathan-cook.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Greta Thunberg, arriving back in Europe after her abduction by Israel in international waters, explains in 40 seconds why western governments are colluding in genocide:

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

#Gobeklitepe, #Sanliurfa,Turkey, 2024. Important #Neolithic settlement site, 9500-8000BCE. From my series on Ancient and #NuminousPlaces, part of my #evolution of #religion project. #archaeology

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

No Merch shipping to UK?? This needs to be an international movement surely?

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

#Hattusa, Anatolia, Turkey, 2024. Hittite capital in the late bronze age. From my series on Ancient and #Numinous Places, part of my #evolution of #religion project. #archaeology

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Zhong Guo Renmin Daxue (Peoples University of China), Haidian, Beijing, 1982. In memory of today. Today we remember Tiananmen 1989. A regime that stresses dialectic and self criticism, but suppresses dissent, dialogue and democracy. #china #tiananmen #1989 #dissent #democracy

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

York cathedral, 2025. From my photography project "Some Statements of Power and Influence", on religion as a central artefact within the evolution of culture. #religion #york #culturalevolution #cathedrals #yorkcathedral #power #influence #humanism

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Tre'r Ceiri, Lynn Penisular, North Wales, 2023. From my series of Numinous Places, within my work on the origins of religion. #trerceiri #wales #lynn #numinousplaces #religion #landscape #landscapehead #newtopographics #amanalteredlandscape #manalteredlandscape

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Handaxe of the Week. Neolithic Flint Book of Butter - 220 mm large handaxe from Grand Pressigny, France. A stone face has a story to tell! #archaeology #neolithic #grandpressigny #handaxe #MaterialCulture #storiesinstone #photography #blackandwhite

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Korean catholic pilgrim, Medugorje, Bosnia, 2024. From my photography project on religion as a central artefact within the evolution of culture. #religion #bosnia #culturalevolution #pilgrims #medugorje

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Ian, great to meet you last evening. Could you possibly add me into the starter pack list please, so all my colleagues from my time as Chair of Humanists UK know that I am here on bluesky. Thanks.

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Robert Ashby @robertashby.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Ha, I heard that about Larkin's poem today too. Were you also at the launch party of the merged Humanists UK and New Humanist magazine this evening at the Humble Grape?

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